An English Garner (Vol V)

215
Here followeth a Note or Declaration of
the troublesome Voyage made with the
Jesus? the Minion^ and four other
ships to the parts of Guinea in the
years 1567 and 15685 by
JOHN HA WKINS*
HE ships departed from Plymouth, the 2nd day of October, anno 1567 ; and had reasonable weather until the 7th day, at which time, some 40 leagues north from Cape Pinisterre, there arose an extreme storm* which continued four days, in such sort that the fleet was dispersed, and all our great boats lost, and the J-esus, our chief ship, in such case as not thought able to serve the voyage ; whereupon, in the same storm, we set our course homeward, determining to give over the voyage. But the nth day of the same month, the wind changed, with fair weather : whereby we were animated to follow our enterprise ; and so did, directing our course to the isles of the Grand Canaries ; where, according to an order before prescribed, all our ships, before dispersed, met in one of those islands, called Gomera, There we took water, and departed from thence, the 4th day of November, towards the coast of Guinea; and arrived